Description: Sunlight ignites the pale volcanic cliffs of Smith Rock State Park. Rising above the Crooked River Canyon, these formations of tuff and rhyolite create one of Central Oregon’s most striking photographic landscapes, drawing outdoor enthusiasts, hikers, and climbers to this iconic high-desert landmark.
Story: It took me several years to finally have the vision for this photograph. I had captured it during a tour of Oregon with my Korean friend, Jang. Jang was visiting for 10 days in August — he was my co-teacher and main contact while I taught ESL in South Korea from 2015-2018. Jang absolutely loved eastern Oregon and specifically Smith Rocks; it was the first time in his life he’d seen anything like it.
This photograph was taken during the morning well after golden hour. It’s a classic shot of area that was meant to capture the grandeur of Smith Rocks in one shot for Jang. Perfect for a scrapbook, but not artistic as is. It need something extra which I only realized years later would be for it to be converted into black-and-white with the sky darkened to almost pure black.
What I love about this photo is that it highlights the jaggedness of the cliffs. The cliffs appear to dance like flames — hinting at what formed them 29.5 million years ago when the Crooked River Caldera erupted. Fire so hot it becomes white and scorches the earth. Today, this area lives on through its popularity for hikers, photographers, geologists, and rock climbers. The eternal flames of white fire.
-BAP
Location: Smith Rock State Park Terrebonne, Oregon 44° 22' 0.0'' N, 121° 8' 14.8'' W Google Map Link
Time: 08:37 PDT (morning) Date: August 12th, 2019
Camera & Settings: Single shot Nikon D800E, NIKKOR 24-70 mm f/2.8G, Tripod ISO 100, 32 mm, f/9, 1/80 sec
Description: Sunlight ignites the pale volcanic cliffs of Smith Rock State Park. Rising above the Crooked River Canyon, these formations of tuff and rhyolite create one of Central Oregon’s most striking photographic landscapes, drawing outdoor enthusiasts, hikers, and climbers to this iconic high-desert landmark.
Story: It took me several years to finally have the vision for this photograph. I had captured it during a tour of Oregon with my Korean friend, Jang. Jang was visiting for 10 days in August — he was my co-teacher and main contact while I taught ESL in South Korea from 2015-2018. Jang absolutely loved eastern Oregon and specifically Smith Rocks; it was the first time in his life he’d seen anything like it.
This photograph was taken during the morning well after golden hour. It’s a classic shot of area that was meant to capture the grandeur of Smith Rocks in one shot for Jang. Perfect for a scrapbook, but not artistic as is. It need something extra which I only realized years later would be for it to be converted into black-and-white with the sky darkened to almost pure black.
What I love about this photo is that it highlights the jaggedness of the cliffs. The cliffs appear to dance like flames — hinting at what formed them 29.5 million years ago when the Crooked River Caldera erupted. Fire so hot it becomes white and scorches the earth. Today, this area lives on through its popularity for hikers, photographers, geologists, and rock climbers. The eternal flames of white fire.
-BAP
Location: Smith Rock State Park Terrebonne, Oregon 44° 22' 0.0'' N, 121° 8' 14.8'' W Google Map Link
Time: 08:37 PDT (morning) Date: August 12th, 2019
Camera & Settings: Single shot Nikon D800E, NIKKOR 24-70 mm f/2.8G, Tripod ISO 100, 32 mm, f/9, 1/80 sec
Later that same day, Jang and I enjoyed an exciting rafting trip on the Deschutes River. I think it’s safe to say that he had the most fun out of the whole group!
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